castle was built between 1849 and 1852, with more work carried out around 1889, but during the 20th century much of the building was demolished and remodelled. Standing behind the castle is the wonderful pele tower, the lower section having been built in the 13th century and the upper part in the 16th. Today, viewed from Hornby Bridge, the picturesque castle looks like a scene from a children’s book. St Margaret’s Church at Hornby is charming. It has an interesting tower, built in 1514 by Sir Edward Stanley, Lord Monteagle, who died in 1524 leaving the church unfinished. The aisle walls and windows were added in 1817 and altered in 1889.
This walk starts from the village and takes you beside the River Wenning and then the magnificent River Lune. Once under or, depending on the flow of the mighty river, over the fine Loyn Bridge, the way crosses flat pastures where the Lune doubles her journey by winding and bending, horseshoe-like, across the valley floor. The route continues to the delightful village of Melling and then climbs up, away from the noise of the A683, to the fells above. Carrying on over quiet walled pastures, it then descends to the splendid motte and bailey above Loyn Bridge before returning to Hornby.
Hornby’s public car park is on the southwest side of the bridge over the River Wenning, grid ref 585683. Park here and turn left across the bridge so that halfway along you can pause to enjoy the dramatic view of the castle on its hill overlooking the village. At the end of the bridge turn left through a small unsigned gate and walk left. Follow the path as it winds right to continue along a reinforced path with the river to your left. Climb the steps over the low floodbank to your right to pass through a gap stile on your left into a pasture. Beyond the next stile continue along the riverbank, now lined with alders.
Hornby Castle above the River Wenning
About 1.4km (just under 1 mile) from the bridge at Hornby the Wenning flows into the River Lune, and here you turn right to walk upstream of the Lune. After another 1.6km (a mile or so) the path passes below a slope covered with brambles and hawthorn bushes, then climbs the slope into a pasture and carries on above the river to arrive at a waymark. Here a notice explains that if the river is in spate then the continuing path below Loyn Bridge will be impassable. If this is the case there is a white waymark directing you right, away from the right of way, to join the road. Here you turn left and descend to the start of the bridge to go through a stile beside the gate on the right.
If the river is not in spate, then go on along the clear path to a stile into woodland. Here in spring the steeply sloping bank to your right is carpeted with yellow saxifrage, wood anemones and bluebells. Carry on beside the river to a ladderstile that allows you to go under Loyn Bridge, which has carried traffic to Gressingham and Arkholme since the 17th century. On the far side of the bridge, on the right, steps leads up to the footpath.
Before you set off along the indistinct path, notice the mound to your right. This is the site of a motte and bailey used by the Normans as a defensive position guarding the river crossing. But save your visit to the site until your return, when the right of way takes you close beside it.
For 1.2km (¾ mile) walk on parallel with the river and close beside an embankment on your right. Soon after the embankment begins to curve slightly right, walk on half left to cross an easy-to-miss concrete tractor bridge over a stream, the Old Lune, that emerges from the ground and flows east, away from the Lune. Look ahead and to the right to see the village of Melling and, behind it, Ingleborough with its top often in cloud. From the tractor bridge walk ahead in the same general direction across a large pasture to a metal gate in the fence.
Continue on to negotiate several tiny ditch-like streams. You may have to move to the left to cross them, and then right again to go on along the general line of the walk. Look ahead to see two railway viaducts and a bridge – aim for the larger, many-arched viaduct to the right, nearer to Melling.
Stride ahead over the pasture, keeping to the right of the Old Lune, to reach the corner of a hedge where there is a prominent waymark. Go on, following the well-waymarked route until the path comes to two stiles close to the water’s edge. Once over the stiles follow the track, keeping to the side of the fence on your right. Go through the waymarked kissing gate and along the farm track that runs below the railway embankment on the Melling side of the viaduct.
Follow the track as it winds steadily right, and when it comes to the A683 turn right and walk 100 metres into the village of Melling. You might like to visit the church and view the lovely old houses that line the main road here. If not, continue the route by taking the first left between Melling Hall and the vicarage, well before the church, to walk up Wennington Road.
Continue uphill on the pavement on the left to come to a footpath sign. A few metres beyond there is another footpath sign, high on a lamp post. This directs you across the road to a path that slopes up through trees to a gate to a large steep pasture. Go through the gate and keep beside the hedge on your left until you reach a stile through a fence on the left. Beyond the stile continue in the same general direction, uphill, to a further stile in the fence ahead.
Continue on uphill, bearing slightly left, to a waymarked stile to the left of a small copse. Walk ahead to cross a turf bridge to a narrow tarmacked road. Here you turn right and climb gently to Lodge Farm – to the left stretch the hills of the Forest of Bowland. Bear left to walk along the side of the farmhouse, pass through a gate and walk ahead, dropping downhill to climb a stile. Follow the way as it winds left, keeping to the right side of a sunken track, then go on beside a very steep-sided, tree-lined gill.
Where the gill swings left and you reach the outbuildings and huge silage pit before Park House farm, take the gated cart track on the right. Climb gently up through the breezy pasture to where the track divides. Here turn left and go on the pleasing way to pass through a narrow strip of woodland. Emerge onto a pasture and walk for a short distance beside the wall on your right, then take a waymarked stile on your right. Continue up the other side of the wall to climb an obvious ladderstile. Beyond, turn right and follow the wall round on your right to reach a waymarked gate. Go through the gate and walk ahead for a few steps to join a track where you turn left and drop downhill to the left side of a conifer plantation. Continue downhill, keeping beside the wall on the right almost to the road, and then walk a few metres left to a gate to the A683, which you cross with care.
Walk right for 150 metres, using the verge where possible, to a signposted stiled footpath on your left. Follow the path left towards Holme Head farm, keeping outside the farm fence and with a huge slurry tank to your left. Go on to a small gate on the left at the corner of the pasture, with the footpath sign on the far side. Carry on to pass through a metal gate, then climb a slope and take the second gate on the left.
Motte and bailey beside Loyn Bridge
Go ahead to come to the dry moat of the motte and bailey mentioned earlier. This ancient fortification occupied an ideal defensive position overlooking the Lune. Today it supports magnificent beech trees and Scots pine, and in spring its slopes are covered with bluebells. Walk round above the moat, which stops at a point where once the River Lune flowed along its side.
Walk on to drop down the slope, past a modern defensive building – a 1939–45 wartime pillbox – to a stile to the lane to Loyn Bridge. Turn left and walk for 500 metres to join the A-road, where another 600 metres brings you back to the parking area.
WALK 8
Low Bentham
| Start/Finish | Low Bentham |
| Distance |
